The Ferax

SPRAGUE, District Judge,

delivered his opinion substantially as follows:

This is an important question. • It depends mainly upon the meaning of the term “construction” in the statute; for the libellant’s work, being in the nature of alteration, cannot well be 'treated as “repair,” which is restoration. The statute is recent, and the word has been the subject of..no legal de?, termination. We must look to the intention of the legislature. The reason of the statute would make it apply to alterations and reconstructions, as well as to the original' construction; and if the latter only had been…